Wedding Photographers & Videographers at McConnells Mill State Park, Portersville

A wedding at McConnells Mill State Park in Portersville puts you in a deep, rocky gorge along Slippery Rock Creek, with an old gristmill and a covered bridge nearby. Wedding photos and video here have a rugged, wooded look: huge boulders, overlooks, waterfalls and rushing water. Your wedding ceremony itself is held at Kildoo Pavilion, the one spot in the park where weddings are permitted.

Kildoo Pavilion is the park's most popular place for weddings and other events. It must be reserved ahead through Pennsylvania State Parks, and the reservation includes the pavilion and its parking. Every wedding in a state park needs pre-approval from the park office, and if you're hiring a professional photographer, videographer or caterer, talk that through with the office too.

For pictures, couples often look to the mill and the covered bridge, both from the 1800s. Treat the gorge with care: the rocks are smooth and often wet, and the creek is fast whitewater, so stay on the trails and keep the wedding party away from the water's edge. The roar of the creek is beautiful but loud, so your videographer may want a microphone close to you during the vows. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, so plan your wedding day around daylight.

• Reserve Kildoo Pavilion early and contact the park office for wedding approval.
• Plan your pictures on the trails with your photographer, away from the water.
• Ask the park office about photo and video guidelines; rice, birdseed and releases of doves or butterflies aren't allowed.

A little about McConnells Mill State Park

McConnells Mill State Park covers 2,546 acres of the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge, a National Natural Landmark carved when glacial lakes drained thousands of years ago. The gristmill and the covered bridge both date to the 1800s.